Pet leash and waste pick-up device

Abstract

A pet leash and waste pick-up device comprises a retractable waste pick-up tool which is conveniently disposed in a sheath housing compartment on the leash device. When it is necessary to pick up and dispose of pet waste, the tool is removed from the sheath housing, expanded to a usable orientation, and fitted with a plastic waste bag. The device is then maneuvered so that the center of the bag is positioned over the waste to be removed. At this point, the tool is retracted, thereby closing the bag over the waste. The bag can then be simply removed from the tool, sealed appropriately, and stored for disposal, without risk of the user directly contacting the waste.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]This invention is related to the field of pet care, and, more particularly, to the fields of pet leashes and pet waste collection and disposal.[0002]An indispensable tool for pet care, and particularly for dog care, is a restraining leash. Leash laws proliferate in most localities in order to minimize the nuisance and danger of loose pets. Increasingly, animal waste collection laws are also becoming the norm, which generally require a pet owner to collect and properly dispose of all solid pet waste which is generated off of the owner's own private property. Accordingly, any pet owner who is walking his / her dog through their neighborhood must take appropriate measures to ensure that any pet droppings are collected and disposed of in a proper manner.[0003]The current state of the art for leash devices is a retractable leash which comprises a plastic housing for containing a coiled leash. The housing also includes a handle feature. An example of this ty...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]The present invention addresses the concerns identified above by providing a pet leash and waste pick-up device which comprises a retractable waste pick-up tool which is conveniently disposed in a sheath housing compartment on the leash device. When it is necessary to pick up and dispose of pet waste, the tool is removed from the sheath housing, expanded to a usable orientation, and fitted with a plastic waste bag. The device is then maneuvered so that the center of the bag is positioned over the waste to be removed. At this point, the tool is retracted, thereby closing the bag over the waste. Now, the bag can be conveniently removed from the tool, sealed appropriately, and stored for disposal, without risk of the user directly contacting the waste.

[0008]Advantageously, a closure is provided for the sheath access opening, to prevent the waste pick-up tool from accidentally falling out of the sheath. In one embodiment, the fixation member comprises an anchor, and the leash is fixed in length. In another embodiment, the fixation member comprises a housing, and the leash is extendable and retractable, and is storable within the housing when in a retracted condition.

Problems solved by technology

Such an approach is generally effective, but is undesirable, and often unsanitary, as there is often a small hole in the bag or other problem which causes the owner's hand to inadvertently contact the waste.

Numerous prior art approaches to this problem have been proposed, none of which has been entirely successful.

However, none of these approaches have gained wide acceptance as a desirable solution to the problem.

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